Automatic punching form for box wrapping machines



Feb; 28, 1939 c BARTRAM 2,148,723

AUTOMATIC PUNCHING FORM FOR BOX WRAPPING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1938 50Z INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC PUNCHING FORMFOR BOX WRAPPING MACHINES Charles E. Bartram, Kansas City, Mo.

Application July 5, 1938, Serial No. 217,391

10 Claims.

This invention relates to box making machinery and particularly,equipment used in wrapping boxes and the parts thereof.

The primary object of this invention is to provide specially built formsfor box wrapping equipment which will perforate the boxes at desiredpoints as the wrapping takes place.

. One of the important aims of this invention is to provide an automaticpunching form for box wrapping machines wherein is included adjustablepunches, means for holding the box out of engagement with the punchesduring predetermined portions of the path of travel of the box I andcooperating topand bottom forms which may be used with the conventionalbox wrapping machines, now commercially employed. Boxes known to thetrade as mail order containers are of the telescoping type and havemetal clips secured to one part thereof which extend throughperforations provided in the other part; or lid. These last mentionedperforations are usually formed by a separate operation which is notonly expensive, but presents an undesirable ragged edge at' theperforation, because the piercing'is y done after the cover iswrapped,'requiring that the punches move through the cover from theinside toward the outside, thus creating a bur or torn edge which isalways in sight.

' This invention provides top and bottom forms 0 for box wrappingmachines which cooperate to automatically form the aforesaidperforations as the cover of the box is being wrapped, and the preferredembodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

5 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bottom form of a box wrappingmachine made to embody the present invention.

' Fig.2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the bottom 40 form illustrating theextensible heads thereon.

. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the bottom form taken on lineIV--IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through the top andbottom forms showing a box 45 in place; and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a two-part mailing box havingperforations formed therein through the use of the forms illustrated inFig. 5.

The forms constructed to embody the present 50 invention may be usedwith the conventional type type box wrapping machines, well known to thetrade and in the art.

The top form 8 is of a size to fit snugly into the portion of box H]which is to be wrapped and 55 perforated, and this top form isreciprocably mounted upon a ram l2 forming a part of the box wrappingmachine not here illustrated.

Box 10 when fitted onto top form 8, usually has continuous sides l4which extend laterally from wall l6 through which perforations l8 are tobe formed. This portion of the box I0 is normally the lid which fitsover the tray-like bottom portion 23 of the box upon which is securedthe clips or fastening elements 22, that pass through perforations l8prior to the bending operation 10 which insures that clips 22 willsecurely hold lid portion ID of the box against accidental displacement.These perforations l8 must be formed extremely close to sides I4 andthrough the wall thereof at the score line, or line of juncture be- 15tween sides I4 and walls Hi. In some instances these perforations l8 areformed in the blank before sides l4 are moved to the position shovm inFig. 3. With a top and bottom form of the nature contemplated by thisinvention, box portion I0 is completely created before perforations I8are punched.

Top form 8 should be ground away to provide notches 24 directly over thepoints where perforations 18 are to be formed. These notches have 25inclined walls which decrease the depth of the notches as the upperportion of top form 8 is approached so that the hereinafter describedpunches will have clearance between walls l4 and top form 8.-

Bottom form 26 is mounted upon support 28 of the wrapping machinethrough the medium of pin 30 that-extends into socket 32 formed insupport 28. A set screw 34 secures pin 30 in place and this lastmentioned pin is screw-threaded 35 into boss 36 forming an integral partof bottom form 26. A tapered cross pin 38 passes through pin 30 and boss36 to preclude relative turning.

Support 28 is yieldably maintained at one end of a path of travel by arelatively heavy spring 40 40, which forms a part of the conventionalwrapping machine. This spring 40 therefore maintains support 28 andbottom form 26 at the upper end of a vertical path of travel untilsuflicient downward force by top form 8 is exerted to compress spring40.

More specifically, bottom form 26 is provided with a base 42 integralwith boss 36 and upon which is slidably mounted heads 44 which serve toincrease or decrease the length of bottom form 26, and since heads 44carry punches 48, the distance between these punches may be varied byadjusting heads 44. Slots 50 in heads 44 receive machine bolts 52 whichare in screw-threaded engagement with base 42 and when these 55 bolts 52are tightened, heads 44 will be secured against displacement.

Base 42 is specially cast so as to present cavities 54 into which extendthe stems of heads 44, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These stems 56cooperate with bolts 52 in imparting rigidity to the heads for constantpressure is exerted thereon as the punches 48 perform their work.

Manifestly, there is a punch 48 mounted upon each head 44 and the mannerof mounting is the same for each punch. These punches 43 are pointed asseen in Fig. 2, so as to facilitate the piercing operation, and constantsharpening is necessary. Obviously, punches 48 are shortened as timegoes on, and since the points of punches 48 must be accurately locatedwith respect to box l0, adjustable means for securing the punches tohead 44 is afforded. Each punch 48 is provided with slots 58 throughwhich pass set screws 66 that are in screw threaded engagement with head44. Plate 62 overlies the slotted portion of punch 48 and the heads ofscrews til are countersunk into plate 62 to present a smooth surface.

Plate 64 provided with punch receiving notches 66 at the ends thereof,is carried by base 42 of bottom form 26. This plate should besubstantially the same area as wall it of the box being wrapped, and itsnotches should be in alignment with notches 24 of top form 8.

Plate 64 is yieldably held in a position spaced from the upper surfaceof base 42 by a plurality of pins 68, each of which extends looselythrough openings m formed in base 42. Springs 12 interposed betweenplate 64 and base 42 circumscribe each pin 68 respectively, and thelower ends of these springs 112 are received in sockets 74 that areenlargements of openings ii! provided in base 42. Thus, when plate 64 ismoved toward base 42, springs 12 compress and enter sockets E4 to insurefreedom of action and an unrestricted path of travel for plate 64. Thesesprings 12 have a direct relation with relatively heavy spring 40 of thewrapping machine, which relation will be more distinctly pointed outduring the explanation of the operation.

Operation When a conventional wrapping machine is equipped with top andbottom forms made as above described, perforations l8 in box lll will beautomatically created while the wrapping action takes place. Theoperator, after placing the wrapper against the outer face of wall l6,moves box I!) on to top form 8 and allows ram I! to move form 8 towardbottom form 26. When top form 8 and box I?) engages plate 64, springs l2will be compressed and plate 64 will move toward base 42 of bottom form26. As this movement takes place, punches 4t! will pierce box i I3 andextend into notches 24 created in top form 8. The downward movement ofram l2 will continue, however, while the wrapper (not here shown) ismoved upwardly along the outer surfaces of sides I 4 by the rollers ofthe machine.

Continued downward movement of ram I2 will force form 8, box I6, plate64, and in fact, the entire bottom form assembly, down to compresssprings 40. When the end of the downward stroke is reached, the wrapperwill be in position and perforations [8 formed.

The return stroke of ram l2 first permits spring 48 to move all of thebottom form 26 back to the point of beginning, while plate 64 is againstbase 42. Thereafter springs 12 will move plate 64 to the position shownin Fig. 5 to insure that punches 48 are withdrawn from box It, and thepoints thereof are disposed below the upper surface of plate 64 so thatbox Ill might be automatically forced into the discharge chute of themachine. This ejecting of the box, however, does not take place untilafter top form 8 has been withdrawn from within box HI. After box H] hasbeen removed from top form 8, the operation may be re peated.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art thatthe wrapping operation is accompanied by a piercing of perforations I8.-Any burs or frayed edges that might be presented, are inside the box andnot Visible to the user when the box is in the normal position.

Forms for box wrapping machines which embody this invention, might bemade to present different physical characteristics than those shown inthe accompanying drawing and it is desired to be limited only by thespirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; a bottom form for engaging the box being wrappedas it moves with the top form through a portion of its path of travelduring the wrapping operation; and means on the bottom form for piercingthe box as it is moved through said portion of the path of travel of thetop form.

2. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being Wrapped; a bottom form for engaging the box being wrappedas it moves with the top form through a portion of its path of travel inone direction during the wrapping operation; punches on the bottom formfor piercing the box as it is moved through said portion of the path oftravel of the top form; and means for withdrawing the punches from thebox as the top form is moved through a portion of its path of travel inthe opposite direction.

3. In a box wrapping machine, a. reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; a bottom form for engaging the box being wrappedas it moves with the top form through a portion of its path of travel inone direction during the wrapping operation; punches on the bottom formfor piercing the box as it is moved through said portion of the path oftravel of the top form; and means for withdrawing the punches from thebox as the top form is moved through a portion of its path of travel inthe opposite direction, said withdrawing means be ing a portion of thebottom form movable with respect to the remaining portion thereof.

4. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; a bottom form for engaging the box being wrappedas it moves with the top form through a portion of its path of travel inone direction top form for supporting the box being wrapped; a bottomform for engaging the box being Wrapped as it moves with the top formthrough a portion of its path of travel during the wrapping operation;and means on the bottom form for piercing the box as it is moved throughsaid portion of the path of travel of the top form, said top form beingprovided with openings for receiving the piercing means as they passthrough said box.

6. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; and a bottom form for engaging the box beingwrapped as it moves with the top form through a portion of its path oftravel in one direction during the wrapping operation, comprising abase, punches on the base for piercing the box as it is moved throughsaid portion of the path of travel of the form, a plate carried by thebase for holding the box being wrapped out of en.- gagement with thepunches, and springs yieldably maintaining the plate in the operativeposition.

'7. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; and a bottom form for engaging the box beingwrapped as it moves with the top form through a portion of its path oftravel in one direction during the wrapping operation comprising a base,punches on the base for piercing the box as it is moved throughlsaidportion of the path of travel of the form, a plate carried by the basefor holding the box being wrapped out of engagement with the punches,and springs yieldably maintaining the plate in the operative position,said punches being adjustably mounted on the base whereby the desiredportions thereof are projected from the base to enter the box.

8 In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supporting thebox being wrapped; and a bottom form for engaging the box being wrappedas it moves with the top form through a portion of its path of travel inone direction during the wrapping operation comprising a base,adjustable heads on the base for increasing or decreasing the lengththereof, punches on the heads for piercing the box as it is movedthrough said portion of the path of travel of the form, a plate carriedby the base for holding the box being wrapped, out of engagement withthe punches, and springs yieldably maintaining the plate in theoperative position.

9. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; and a bottom form for engaging the box beingWrapped as it moves with the top form through a portion of its path oftravel in one direction during the wrapping operation comprising a base,adjustable heads on the base for increasing or decreasing the lengththereof, punches on the heads for piercing the box as it is movedthrough said portion of the path of travel of the form, a plate carriedby the base for holding the box being wrapped, out of engagement withthe punches, and springs yieldably maintaining the plate in theoperative position, said plate having notches formed therein for thereception of the punches.

10. In a box wrapping machine, a reciprocating top form for supportingthe box being wrapped; and a bottom form for engaging the box beingwrapped as it moves with the top form through a portion of its path oftravel in one direction during the wrapping operation comprising a base,adjustable heads on the base for increasing or decreasing the lengththereof, punches on the heads for piercing the box as it is movedthrough said portion of the path of travel of the form, a plate carriedby the base for holding the box being wrapped, out of engagement withthe punches, and springs yieldably maintaining the plate in theoperative position, said top form and plate having aligned notchesformed. therein for the reception of the punches.

CHARLES E. BAR'I'RAM.

